Welcome to the official Website of SLALAS

SLALAS is the apex organization dedicated to Laboratory Animal Science in Sri Lanka. We are committed to promoting animal welfare and the ethical use of laboratory animals by promoting the 3Rs concept’ (Refinement, Reduction, and Replacement) in Laboratory Animal Science.

SLALAS is a Member of the International Council for Laboratory Animal Science & the Asian Federation of Laboratory Animal Science.

Click below to read the founding story of SLALAS by our Founding President Vidya Nidhi Professor Mangala Gunatilake Story of SLALAS

13th Scientific Sessions & International Conference of SLALAS

Asia Laboratory Animal Day 2025

SLALAS celebrated Asia Laboratory Animal Day 2025 (which was originally planned for Nov 29th and postponed due to the extreme weather condition in Sri Lanka) on December 16, 2025 with the participation of academics, researchers, and students, marking the importance of recognizing laboratory animals and promoting ethical research practices. The program featured an introductory session by Prof. Mangala Gunatilake and Dr. Sachini Amarasekara, who shared the history of Asia Laboratory Animal Day and highlighted key activities carried out in 2024. The main highlight of the event was a session by Dr. Cynthia A. Pekow (Former ICLAS President), who introduced refined mouse-handling techniques aimed at enhancing animal welfare and improving research quality. To further support awareness and celebration of this day, SLALAS also developed and shared a commemorative leaflet, reinforcing its commitment to laboratory animal welfare and the principles of the 3Rs. The event was jointly organized by ZSJP (University of Sri Jayewardenepura) and BEEZ (University of Colombo).

SLALAS representation at the 10th AFLAS Congress & The 18th Academic Conference on Laboratory Animal Science and Technology of China

Prof. Mangala Gunathilake won the AFLAS–ICLAS Outstanding Contribution Award 2025!

Dr. Varuni Gunathilake received the ICLAS-AFLAS Youth Progress Award 2025, and participated in the Youth camp.

Asia Laboratory Animal Day 2024

Tree Planting Event
On November 29, 2024, the University of Colombo, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Association for Laboratory Animal Science (SLALAS) and the Base for Enthusiasts of Environmental Science and Zoology (BEEZ), commemorated Asia Laboratory Animal Day. This event, announced by the Asian Federation of Laboratory Animal Science Associations (AFLAS), was marked by a symbolic tree planting ceremony held at the Faculty of Science, near the Mini Urban Forest Area.

Opening of a Laboratory Animal Corner
In commemoration of Asia Laboratory Animal Day, the Sri Lanka Laboratory Animal Science Association (SLALAS) also inaugurated a Laboratory Animal Science Corner at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. The event took place with the participation of the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Vidya Jyothi Vajira H.W. Dissanayake, who graced the occasion as the chief guest. The Laboratory Animal Science Corner is a unique initiative that houses a museum and a book collection, both of which serve to highlight the significant history and contributions to laboratory animal science in Sri Lanka.

AFLAS Council Meeting and CALAS Annual Sessions, 2024

Dr. Mangala Gunatilake, the founding president of SLALAS, and Dr. Sachini Amarasekara, the current president, represented SLALAS at the Asian Federation of Laboratory Animal Science (AFLAS) council meeting in Xian, China from 12-14 Sept 2024. They also had the privilege of participating in the annual conference of the Chinese Association for Laboratory Animal Science.

Japanese Association for Laboratory Animal Science (JALAS) International Award 2024

Congratulations to Dr. Anusha Senevirathne for her remarkable achievement as the winner of the Japanese Association for Laboratory Animal Science (JALAS) International Award 2024, accompanied by the esteemed prize of JPY 100,000 for her abstract entitled “Evaluation of phytochemical constituents, antioxidant capacity with special reference to the hypoglycaemic activity of Asparagus racemosus on Wistar Albino rats “.

Dr. Anusha received her award at the 71st Annual Meeting of the Japanese Association for Laboratory Animal Science, Kyoto, Japan, which was held from May 29th to May 31st, 2024.

We wish her continued success in her future endeavors